No. 14 Tennessee football is hosting No. 6 Alabama for the 2026 installment of The Third Saturday in October.

Here are five keys to the game if the Vols want to light up cigars on Saturday night.

1. Take care of the football. UT escaped Arkansas with a win despite turning the ball over, but it's hard to fathom the same performance resulting in a win against Alabama. QB George MacIntyre threw a pair of interceptions and fumbled the football in his debut as a starter. Turnovers are a quick way to give Alabama momentum — and silence what should be a hostile Neyland Stadium crowd. His first interception of the season was what got Faizon Brandon pulled late in the first half of the Auburn game. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel can't be patient with those kinds of mistakes.

2. The X-Factor. Xavier Gilliam has 10 tackles for loss through six games — the second-most for a Vol since 2001. The Penn State transfer has wreaked havoc on opposing offensive lines, and he'll be needed again against Alabama. Gilliam has five sacks and the Vols have 25 to lead the nation. The Crimson Tide could be without starting center Racin Delgatty, who was injured early in the game against Georgia. Winning the line of scrimmage will be key, and the injury could be an opportunity for a feast from UT's defensive line. The center is the key communicator of the offensive line. Without an experienced voice there, it could end up being a problem.

3. Run the ball. Tennessee has found success when it sticks to the run game. The ground game paid off in the end against Arkansas, and it got UT back in the game against Texas. Running the ball and controlling the line of scrimmage against Alabama will be key in leaving with a win on Saturday.

4. Look for improvement from George MacIntyre. MacIntyre gets his second-career start on Saturday. The Vols will need to see week-to-week improvement from MacIntyre if they hope to succeed with him at the helm this season. Saturday will be a good opportunity, against a quality opponent at home, for MacIntyre to showcase that improvement.

5. Block outside noise. Like every year, The Third Saturday in October is laced with what former Alabama head coach Nick Saban would call "rat poison." It'll be important for UT to block out the noise — especially talk of the Crimson Tide being weaker due to injuries — and focus on Saturday's game. Luckily for UT, the matchup with Texas will be good preparation for another energetic rivalry showdown.

Source: Yahoo Sports